I Love Riding in the City – Ray Banks

Where do you live and what’s it like riding in your city?
I live in St. George, UT, a pretty small city in Southern Utah. Riding in my city is pretty nice because there are quite a few bike trails and there are many of us that are currently advocating for more.

The only downside to riding in St. George would probably be that the city is so spread out, so a lot of times I go places by car. I wish I lived either downtown, or in a bigger city so I could easily get to more places by bike.

What was your favorite city to ride in, and why?
My favorite city to ride in is definitely Hangzhou, China. The city is super bike friendly (their bikeshare program is one of the largest in the world with about 65,000 bikes), and it’s a big city (population: over 8 million) which I think makes things really fun.

Why do you love riding in the city?
I love riding in the city because it’s fast and exciting. There’s nothing I love more than weaving through bikes, people, and cars as I’m getting from one place to another.

I also feel like bikes are the best way to truly appreciate a city. Walking takes too long, and when you’re driving you don’t really “see” very much of the city because you’re inside a metal box. Buses have the same problem as cars, and when you’re on the subway you don’t see much of the city at all!

Or just say whatever you want about riding in the city… Poetry anyone?
I’ve been really fortunate in my life to have flight benefits because my dad is an airline employee. That means that I can basically travel anywhere in the world, so the only thing that limits me is time. Bike riding is one of the most effective forms of transportation in almost every city I’ve been to in the world, and I absolutely love it. In fact, it’s so great that I recently started a company selling bikes aimed at city bike riders.

City Reports

About Urban Velo

Urban Velo is a reflection of the cycling culture in current day cities. Our readers are encouraged to contribute their words and art.

Urban Velo is published fives times per year, on the even months (we skip the February issue). Issues are available for free download as they become available, with high resolution copies available for iPad purchase. Print copies are available for purchase online and at select bicycle retailers and like minded establishments across the country.